Katerina Mansour

If after reading this title you thought to yourself: “Stress? That’s crazy! Studying abroad is all about fun. I’m not gonna stress about anything!” then I hate to break it to you, but you’re dead wrong.

No matter who you are, it’s almost guaranteed that you will stress out and become incredibly frustrated during your first few weeks studying abroad. I’ve traveled extensively throughout the world and I was still super stressed by my period of adaptation to Cape Town, South Africa.

I witnessed a few semester abroad students have meltdowns throughout the first two weeks of our time here, and I won’t lie, I might have punched a few things out of frustration once in a while myself. Due to this, I thought it might be useful to put out some realistic stress management tips that should apply no matter where you choose to study abroad. So here we go:

#1: Make friends quickly

Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, you’re going to want to have some people around for support when you feel like you’re about to lose your mind—especially during your first few weeks abroad. The first few weeks of your time abroad are crucial for that. You’ll immediately notice groups of friends already existing, since human beings are cliquey, plus you’ll definitely see people immediately group themselves based on where they’re from. Don’t let that set you off.

Just because all the Germans hang out together, doesn’t mean you can’t also be a part of that group. But I’d also recommend going for the people you see in smaller groups, or even the people you see that are alone! Chances are they’re dying to make some new friends as well, and depending on your personality, you might enjoy the shy introvert more than the loud extrovert.

Basically, don’t be afraid to approach people, whether they’re from where you are or not. Having people around you that you can vent to will be a huge lifesaver on those days where your stress levels are off the charts. And making local friends is especially helpful within the first few weeks, as they know the school’s system better than anyone else!

#2: You’re not in Kansas anymore

You’d think I wouldn’t need to mention this, but please realize that you are in fact abroad. Things are going to be different. People are going to act differently. Schools are going to be run differently. Stop comparing everything to your experience back home and simply deal with the fact that things are different where you are. You might hate it at first, and go through that stage where you think everything sucks where you are and you wish they’d just do things like back home; but if you just relax and come to terms with this new system, you’ll have a much better time. In fact, you might enjoy this new system and way of living more than you ever imagined you could. Embrace it. Learn about this new culture you’ve been immersed into. Why are things this way? What are the benefits? Look on the positive side of things!

#3: Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Seriously. Ask people for help. Don’t be shy or afraid, because that’s just a waste of time. Suck it up and go ask for help when you need it. And if you don’t know whom to ask, then just stop anyone around you and ask anyway. If the person you asked doesn’t know, ask the next person you can find! Just keep asking until you figure out what you need to know.

You’re probably going to get lost on campus a lot; you’re bound to stress out about finding where your classes are; you’ll wonder how to get your books, or heck, figure out whether you’re even registered for your classes! None of those issues will resolve themselves if you don’t get out of your comfort zone and seek help. I had to run around campus for about a week and a half trying to figure out how to drop and add classes, where those classes were, what I needed for them, what the heck “course readers” and “tutorials” were, etc. I wouldn’t have survived if I hadn’t pestered every reception desk person, professor and local student I came across.

#4: Prepare yourself for anything

Little things like having a few granola bars or an apple in your bag, a decent amount of cash, and a working cellphone can really help your stress levels. You might not be able to find where to buy food on your first days, you might not have the right amount of money, your card might not work, or you might need to call a professor or an administrator for help with a problem you’re facing. Being prepared will always save you from some very stressful times. This, of course, also extends to printing out or writing down information about where your classes are, checking your new university email for important announcements or information, and other key preparations necessary for your first few days. Your university will share important information with you either via email or through your student account, and you should check those as regularly as possible, otherwise you might find yourself really irritated when you walk all the way to a class that got canceled or forgot to bring an important document to class registration day.

#5: Make lists

Lists are lifesavers. Chances are you’re going to forget a bunch of things you need to do within your first few weeks abroad. So make a list of all the things you need to remember, and keep it handy. This especially applies to your classes. There might be special assignments you need to do, or special class meetings or conferences you have to attend. Maybe your university’s online portal isn’t very up to date, and the only way you ever get info is from your professor in class. That makes it easy to forget important dates and information, so taking notes and making lists will avoid you the horror of realizing you missed an important deadline or forgot to turn in important paperwork.

#6: Don’t forget to have fun

Of course this is one of the most important tips. The only thing that can really fight stress is having fun. So if you’ve had a rough day, go out and relax with friends, do something exciting to get your mind off of your struggles. I’d like to advocate for a healthy balance, though, because if you get lost into partying and going out every day, chances are you’re going to run into some big problems with those classes you’ve been skipping and those assignments you’ve been missing. And while studying abroad is about more than classes, you should try to embrace this new academic opportunity you’ve been given.